Drummergus13
New Member
- Joined
- May 25, 2016
- Messages
- 4
- Reaction score
- 0
- City, State
- Idaho Falls, Idaho
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 1991 Eddie Bauer Explorer
Hey guys, my name is Tanner. I've been reading the forums, and you guys have given me SO MUCH knowledge and ability to fix my X, it's ridiculous! So first thing, thank you all.
I bought my dad's 98 jeep wrangler, and it developed a knock. It's in the bottom end, so I really don't want to mess with it. I thought about rebuilding it, but I figured that I might as well build my X, since it has plenty of room for me, the wife, and my one year old twin girls.
Now I'm going over a list of things that I want to do to build it. I wanna do some light off-roading, mainly mudding, so it doesn't have to be over-the-top with the most heavy duty parts and accessories. I'm sick of looking at a rusted beater, and I really don't want to buy a new vehicle that has many components that are a pain to mess with.
My plan right now is to find a shell with decent interior (mine is HORRID from previous owner,) and good looking body pieces, including the frame, with minor or no rust. (yea I know, "dream big, kid) I may have found one.
I will start with tearing it down to the chassis. Restore the chassis, mess with my axles and gears since I want to run at least 33/12.50.15 or 33/10.50/15. I may decide to go bigger, but that costs more money, and for my little off-roading I don't see it as necessary.
Once I have it down to the skeleton and get to the axles, that's where my questions come in. Sorry for the long post, I'm just excited and trying to give as many details, as I notice lots of members getting thrashed because of an inability to explain. (With that being said, I am fairly new to this. If My terminology is off or wrong, please don't jump down my throat. Instead, ask me questions that will better help you understand what I am trying to say. I am doing my best for how little time and training I have received. Everything I know is because my own determination.)
I want to know your guys' opinions on running a Dana 35 in the front axle, and a Dana 44 in the rear axle, much like the 98 wrangler I was so stoked about. I am still indecisive about gear ratio, if I even need to do it, because I need to do a little more research as that part is still a little bit away.
I also wanted to know what your guys' opinions are on rear suspension. My X is beat up. It's ugly. It looks like a 90 year old man, that can still run within reason. The body sags in the bag to the driver side, the dog legs are rusted out, the paint is peeling like Goldmember's skin, the headliner sags like my grandma's cheeks, and the carpet looks like people didn't give a crap about it.
Because of the sagging suspension I was looking at replacement leaf springs. I was considering doing a coilg spring conversion in the rear, if it is possible. I have searched google and the forums, and maybe my terminology is incorrect because I can't find anything about the possibly of this conversion on my 91 Eddie Bauer X. Is it possible?
I have no issue researching for myself. The reason I am asking for opinions is so that I can find axles if it would be beneficial, and also, if a spring conversion is possible, I have not been able to find a "lift kit" or "conversion kit" to accommodate a conversion with all required parts and hardware, so I would also need to know what would be required to ditch these disgusting, old leaf springs and get the same support the X needs with coils.
I think I have a grasp on the general idea of a conversion, but I find that there is usually something I am forgetting on any or all repairs, so I have learned to research and ask questions before diving in with an over-confident attitude. If you guys have a link, or maybe just have some spare time and want to help a new car lover out, that would be great.
I am going to continue to research and try an find a thread or some sort to see if I can get the answers on my own, but sometimes it's as easy as one person being a great human being, taking a few minutes to drop a link, and saving me hours, to possibly even days of researching. It gets difficult sometimes to juggle our twins around while trying to focus on a laptop.
Any and all help is greatly appreciated. You guys rock.
-Thanks, Tanner G.
I bought my dad's 98 jeep wrangler, and it developed a knock. It's in the bottom end, so I really don't want to mess with it. I thought about rebuilding it, but I figured that I might as well build my X, since it has plenty of room for me, the wife, and my one year old twin girls.
Now I'm going over a list of things that I want to do to build it. I wanna do some light off-roading, mainly mudding, so it doesn't have to be over-the-top with the most heavy duty parts and accessories. I'm sick of looking at a rusted beater, and I really don't want to buy a new vehicle that has many components that are a pain to mess with.
My plan right now is to find a shell with decent interior (mine is HORRID from previous owner,) and good looking body pieces, including the frame, with minor or no rust. (yea I know, "dream big, kid) I may have found one.
I will start with tearing it down to the chassis. Restore the chassis, mess with my axles and gears since I want to run at least 33/12.50.15 or 33/10.50/15. I may decide to go bigger, but that costs more money, and for my little off-roading I don't see it as necessary.
Once I have it down to the skeleton and get to the axles, that's where my questions come in. Sorry for the long post, I'm just excited and trying to give as many details, as I notice lots of members getting thrashed because of an inability to explain. (With that being said, I am fairly new to this. If My terminology is off or wrong, please don't jump down my throat. Instead, ask me questions that will better help you understand what I am trying to say. I am doing my best for how little time and training I have received. Everything I know is because my own determination.)
I want to know your guys' opinions on running a Dana 35 in the front axle, and a Dana 44 in the rear axle, much like the 98 wrangler I was so stoked about. I am still indecisive about gear ratio, if I even need to do it, because I need to do a little more research as that part is still a little bit away.
I also wanted to know what your guys' opinions are on rear suspension. My X is beat up. It's ugly. It looks like a 90 year old man, that can still run within reason. The body sags in the bag to the driver side, the dog legs are rusted out, the paint is peeling like Goldmember's skin, the headliner sags like my grandma's cheeks, and the carpet looks like people didn't give a crap about it.
Because of the sagging suspension I was looking at replacement leaf springs. I was considering doing a coilg spring conversion in the rear, if it is possible. I have searched google and the forums, and maybe my terminology is incorrect because I can't find anything about the possibly of this conversion on my 91 Eddie Bauer X. Is it possible?
I have no issue researching for myself. The reason I am asking for opinions is so that I can find axles if it would be beneficial, and also, if a spring conversion is possible, I have not been able to find a "lift kit" or "conversion kit" to accommodate a conversion with all required parts and hardware, so I would also need to know what would be required to ditch these disgusting, old leaf springs and get the same support the X needs with coils.
I think I have a grasp on the general idea of a conversion, but I find that there is usually something I am forgetting on any or all repairs, so I have learned to research and ask questions before diving in with an over-confident attitude. If you guys have a link, or maybe just have some spare time and want to help a new car lover out, that would be great.
I am going to continue to research and try an find a thread or some sort to see if I can get the answers on my own, but sometimes it's as easy as one person being a great human being, taking a few minutes to drop a link, and saving me hours, to possibly even days of researching. It gets difficult sometimes to juggle our twins around while trying to focus on a laptop.
Any and all help is greatly appreciated. You guys rock.
-Thanks, Tanner G.
